CHINA
A7
million to $20.5 million; of liquid fuel, from $14.9 to $10.7 million; and of kero- sene oil, from $47.8 million to $30 million. Metals and ores witnessed a severe decline from $131.6 million to $65 million, the decline being general under all headings but being principally noticeable under ungalvanized iron and steel bars, which fell in value from $13.9 million to $6.5 million; under rails, which fell from $13.6 million to $2.1 million; under ungalvanized sheets and plates, from $14.7 million to $6 million; and under tinned plates, which declined from $17.1 million to $10.3 million. The decline under chemicals and pharmaceuticals from $61 million to $57 million occurred mainly under chemical and chemical compounds, not otherwise recorded, which fell in value from $16.5 million to $12.2 million. The importation of sulphate of ammonia was well maintained at $18.8 million as against $19.6 million, with caustic soda at $2.7 million as against $2.5 million. Machinery and tools fell in value from $65 million to $56.4 mil- lion; the decline under machinery and parts, not otherwise recorded, being from $22.8 million, with an increase in textile machinery and parts, largely from Japan, from $21 million to $25 million. A considerable decline took place. under the grouping books, maps, paper and wood pulp from $65 million to $45 million, common printing and newsprinting paper falling in value from $20 million to $10 million; kraft paper, from $3 million to $1.3 million; paper, not otherwise recorded, from $3.6 million to $2.2 million; wood pulp, from $2.6 million to $0.6 million; and paperware and all articles made of paper, not otherwise recorded, from $9.2 million to $3.5 million. There were increases under paper boards from $2.5 million to $4.3 million, and in cigarette paper also from $2.5 million to $4.3 million, while slight increases appear under simile and tissue paper. The increase from $37.6 million to $42.8 million under cotton and manufactures thereof was largely on Japanese account; under raw cotton the decline in value of approximately $3.3 million was due to decreased imports of Egyptian and American cotton. The decrease under vehicles and vessels was from $42 million to $34 million, being noticeable in locomotives and tenders, which declined in value from $6.3 million to $0.3 million; in railway and tram- way parts, not otherwise recorded, from $4.8 million to $2.9 million; and in bicycle parts and accessories, from $4.7 million to $1.7 million. The import of motor tractors, trailers and trucks (including chassis) increased in value from $11.7 million to $15.6 million, and in motor-car parts and accessories (not in- cluding tires and tubes) from $3.5 million to $5 million. Dyes, pigments, paints and varnishes fell in value from $37.1 million to $31.1 million, with a decline of close on $3 million under aniline and other coal tar dyes, decreases also occurring under artificial indigo, paints and pigments. The import of miscel- laneous metal manufactures declined in value from $41 million to $29.7 million; scientific instruments or apparatus and parts or accessories, not otherwise re- corded, fell in value from $5.9 million to $2.4 million; telephonic and telegraphic instruments and parts, from $2.5 million to $1.6 million; radio sets and parts, from $3.5 million to $1.2 million; and metal manufactures, not otherwise re- corded, from $6.1 million to $2.3 million. There was little change in imports of timber and tobacco. Imports of coal, largely from British India, French Indo- China and Japan, rose in value from $6 million to $21.5 million. Imports of sugar declined, while under wool and manufactures thereof the decline was from $35.6 million to $18.9 million, the fall being particularly heavy in the case of wood, carded or combed wool and waste wool from Great Britain, which fell in quantity from over 5 million kilogrammes to under 600,000 kilogrammes. The import of silk (including artificial silk) and manufactures thereof rose in value. from $13.6 million to $17.8 million, the increase being largely from Japan, with imports from Italy declining. The import of fruit, seeds and vegetables, and of animal products, canned goods and groceries, largely from Japan, increased, with a decline in the import of fishery and sea products.
EXPORTS
The net value of exports declined from $838 million to $763 million, or by 8.95 per cent. Below are given comparative statistics for the net value of the export trade during the past three years, arranged according to the groupings used in the "Monthly Returns of the Foreign Trade of China" and in order of their importance during the year under review: